(Photo: Pexels/Pixabay)
There's a new trend on social media called "Ozempic babies." The latest hype started after multiple women reported unexpected pregnancies while using semaglutide-based drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
Ozempic Babies: Women Reports Unexpected Pregnancies While Using Semaglutide-Based Drugs
Several women took to TikTok and shared that they got pregnant even while using contraceptives after they started using Ozempic. Although it remains unclear if Ozempic caused the pregnancy, the semaglutide-based drugs may interfere with some classes of birth control pills.
Ozempic and other comparable medications copy the activities of GLP-1, also known as glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone generated in the stomach after eating. Because it helps regulate blood sugar levels, people with diabetes frequently require an increased dosage. Ozempic also slows digestion, which is why it is often used as a medication for weight loss.
While some hypothesize that this could impact the way oral contraceptives pass through the body, the evidence does not corroborate claims that semaglutide lessens the effectiveness of contraceptives. Although the headlines about "Ozempic babies" may be recent, this connection has been researched for years, and no proof of a conflict has been found.
Jonathan Kaplan, a plastic surgeon in San Francisco, attempted to explain the new trend. He cited an article warning women that they were at increased risk of getting pregnant when using Ozempic. According to him, the possible reason is Ozempic's ability to delay gastric emptying.
By causing food to pass from the stomach more slowly into the intestines, Ozempic or this class of drugs helps one feel fuller for longer, which encourages one to eat less and lose weight. Your chance of becoming pregnant may increase if your oral contraceptive pill is not properly absorbed due to delayed gastric emptying.
He warned that those who were trying to shed the baby weight after giving birth should know that they may be at higher risk of becoming pregnant again.
He added that this is not brand-new. Ozempic and Wegovy knew this was possible when they filed their papers with the FDA.
Another possible reason is weight loss. Given the established link between body weight and fertility, this could assist in explaining the "Ozempic babies" trend.
ALSO READ: 'Ice Hack' Weight Loss Supplements Debunked by Dietitians - Little Evidence To Support Claims
Budget Ozempic Safe and Effective?
The Olympics have become popular because they can help people lose weight. Even Hollywood celebrities use them to shed the extra pounds they pack on after the holidays.
Due to its rising popularity, "budget Ozempic" arrived on the market. However, one should note that a "budget Ozempic" differs from the actual Ozempic and works differently.
Budget Ozempic is unrelated to Ozempic and does not include semaglutide, the drug that acts as Ozempic's active component. According to Swrajit Sarkar, a registered public health nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition (UKVRN) and a member of the Nutrition Society, what most people refer to online as "budget Ozempic" are stool softeners and laxatives. He warned against using them for weight loss.
One of the many reasons not to use a "budget Ozempic" when trying to lose weight is that it only has a temporary effect. Also, using laxatives and stool softeners for prolonged periods is not advisable. They could be harmful when misused.
RELATED ARTICLE: Eating Right Vs Intermittent Fasting: Which is More Effective for Weight Loss?
Check out more news and information on Medicine and Health in Science Times.
